By Daniel Olabiyi
Former World Bank vice president, Oby Ezekwesili, was asked as a panelist at the World Economic Forum (WEF) to comment on her role in the #Bring BackOurGirls movement which she convened to pressure the government to rescue the school girls abducted in their school in Chibok, Borno State.
But Ezekwesili shoved aside the question by addressing an issue more pressing.
“I think that the first thing to do is to acknowledge what you started off with about South Africa and what we’ve seen on the street. I think that there has to be a very distinct session for us to discuss the issues of our collaboration as Africans.
“The reality of what we saw in South Africa is too sordid for it to be conversation by the way. This is the issue. We cannot have Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement and yet we have a situation where there is black and black violence in this country. So, I do hope that we are going to go beyond the marginal conversations of it and get to the heart of the matter of what kind of integrated Africa we want to drive forward,” she said.
Not done, Ezekwesili accused African politicians for being responsible for the ‘miserable’ situation the young people in the continent have found themselves.
She said the politicians have failed to improve social problems such as unemployment for the youth.
“Our politicians need to be put in a room and be told they have produced a miserable situation not worthy of the young people that hold them responsible for their fate”.
Ethiopia’s President Sahlework Zewd said: “There is a huge mismatch between policies, commitments and actions on the ground and I agree with what Ezekwesili has said.”
Nigeria pulled out of the WEF in protest for Xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and nationals of other countries in South Africa.
President Muhammadu Buhari’s personal assistant on social media, Bashir Ahmad, stirred controversy when he tweeted that Ezekwesili ought to have stayed away from the forum.
“Surprised to see some Nigerian experts in everything governance who spend most of their time lecturing the Government on empathy and the art of prioritizing national interest over individual benefits still went ahead to attend the summit.”
His tweet quickly drew comments from other Nigerians.
“Madam @obyezeks should quickly address this and explain to Nigerians why she should be attending the WEF in South Africa when our people are senselessly been killed there,” @Udoh_D said.
“@obyezeks and @wef Despite the travel advisory warning Nigerians that SA is unsafe for now,” David Atta tweeted @the_davidatta
“Na we tell government to boycott o. These guys were busy playing draft until it got messy. Now forming advisory. Something that started on Sunday. Abeg make we hear word.” —Daniel Ukoha @UkohaDaniel said.
But John Chudi argued in favour of Ezekwesili, saying: “@obyezeks is right to attend. The woman is a nationalist. I know she has a valid reason of going. She’s unafraid, uncowed, unbossed! Kudos ma,” he said. Via his handle, @capacitychudi
